Method and machine tool for machining a workpiece

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and machine tool for machining a workpiece on the machine tool comprising at least 5 axes with a tool by using an NC program, the machine tool comprising a clamp for clamping a workpiece and a work spindle including a tool holder for holding a workpiece. The workpiece is clamped on the tool holder of the work spindle of the machine tool, the tool is clamped in the clamp of the machine tool, and the workpiece clamped in the tool holder of the work spindle is controlled in a program-controlled manner in relation to the tool clamped in the clamp for removing material from the workpiece.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing gearings on a workpiece at a numerically controlled machine tool using a tooth form cutter head,
 the numerically controlled machine tool comprising:
 a work spindle having a holder interface configured to receive a tool holder that is configured to fixedly hold a milling cutter, the work spindle being configured to drive a rotation of the tool holder received at the holder interface of the work spindle by means of a spindle motor, the work spindle also being configured to receive the workpiece; 
 a workpiece clamp; 
 at least three linear-axis drives and in addition to the spindle motor associated with the rotation driven by the work spindle, at least two rotation-axis drives, the at least three linear-axis drives and the at least two rotation-axis drives being configured to control a relative movement of the workpiece clamp with respect to the work spindle along at least three linear axes and about at least two rotation axes; 
 a rotatable turntable, configured to be rotated by being driven by one of the at east two rotation-axis drives, the workpiece damp being mounted on the rotatable turntable; and 
 a tool changer which is configured to replace the tool holder, when the tool holder is received at the holder interface of the work spindle, replacement of the workpiece, as a first workpiece, received at the work spindle with a second workpiece being performed by using the tool changer, 
 
 the method comprising:
 using the tool changer to perform at least one of:
 (i) replacing the tool holder, which is clamped at the holder interface of the work spindle, with the first workpiece, and clamping the first workpiece at a clamping device, which is held at the holder interface of the work spindle, 
 (ii) replacing the first workpiece, which is clamped at the clamping device which is held at the holder interface of the work spindle, with the tool holder, and clamping the tool holder at the holder interface of the work spindle, and 
 (iii) placing the first workpiece at the work spindle, if the tool holder has been previously removed from the holder interface of the work spindle, and clamping the first workpiece at the damping device, which is held at the holder interface of the work spindle: 
 
 clamping the tooth form cutter head to the workpiece clamp on the turntable, the tooth form cutter head having a plurality of knives or blades that are suitable for milling one or more tooth spaces of a gearing on the first workpiece; and 
 controlling, based on a numerical control program and driven by the at least three linear-axis drives and the at least two rotation-axis drives, a relative movement of the first workpiece clamped at the clamping device, which is held at the holder interface of the work spindle, with respect to the tooth form cutter head clamped at the workpiece clamp on the turntable. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 replacing the first workpiece clamped at the clamping device, which is held at the holder interface of the work spindle, with the second-workpiece. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping device has a tool holding interface configured to be received in the holder interface of the work spindle. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece clamp is fixed in a rotationally locked manner on the turntable of the machine tool so as to rotate together with the turntable.